My First Helicopter Flight Experience

By Ofonime Essien

Photo: Wikipedia
I had flown in commercial airplanes a number of times but never in a helicopter. I had seen some
helicopters parked at some airports and heliports and had seen helicopters fly but never had the
luxury of flying in one until I met late Captain Ejiofor Omesili in Accra, Ghana on 12 th October,
2011.
I had gone to meet him in Accra, Ghana from Cotonou, Benin Republic on some business deal that
was to help me raise enough money for my helicopter flight training in the United States of
America (USA).
The day after I arrived Ghana, he was flying to Abidjan, Cote dIvoire from Kotoka International
Airport, Accra Ghana. He had to refuel at Air Force Base Takoradi, Ghana before proceeding to
Abidjan.
During the flight, I got to see the popular Densu River, Ghana where two different rivers that
come from the same source meet but run parallel. They do not mix together because of their

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properties. One was whitish, the other blueish in colour. I got to see the Cape Coast Castle where
slaves were gathered for onward shipment to Europe and America.

President Barack Obama visiting the slave castle

We flew Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin helicopter with capacity for 11 passengers plus 2 crews and
a service ceiling of 19,242feet. We were cruising at 120 knots, 1,100 feet above mean sea level.
Flight time from Kotoka International Airport, Accra to Air Force Base, Takoradi was 105 nautical
miles (nm), approximately 52 minutes.
During the flight, he showed me the controls, then handed over the control of the helicopter to me.
Because I had been studying, flying simulator and watching helicopter videos, I was ready. I took
the controls of the aircraft and flew for about 10 minutes. I flew straight & level and turns. While
flying, he showed me a mountain to his right and asked me to fly to it. He said If mountain will
not go to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain.
Instinctively, I looked out, banked right, rolled out and flew straight to the mountain. It was fun.
It was a rare opportunity and one I didnt fail to take advantage of. I experienced how to fly an
aircraft on autopilot. It was the most wonderful flight experience of my life. Flying from an
aircrafts cockpit was an awesome experience.
Prior to this flight, I had discussed the possibility of flying from the cockpit of an airplane with an
Aero Contractors and Dana Air Captains but was told the era of flying from the flight-deck jump
seat was over, thanks to the changes in the aviation industry as a result of the September 11, 2001

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attacks in the United States of America. I was curious about how Pilots see their way through dark
clouds, hazy weather and generally, how they navigate from one airport to another. I was willing
to pay anything to have the view from the cockpit.
My first helicopter flight experience answered some of the questions I had. It was an awesome
experience. It was an experience that prepared me on what to expect later in flying school. I will
always be grateful to late Captain Omesili for the experience. Further trainings later answered all
the questions I had, especially flying in clouds and at night. The flight was based on Visual Flight
Rules (VFR), that is flight based on visual reference to prominent landmarks, aeronautical maps
and global positioning system (GPS). He advised me to always go with an aeronautical map on all
flights as the GPS in the aircraft can pack up.
I realized later that flying in clouds, at nights or marginal weather are conditions referred to as
instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and Pilots fly in IMC based on Instrument Flight
Rules (IFR), with sole reference to radio navigational aids on the ground and in the aircraft. Flying
IFR requires special skills and training. Instrument flying is often the most difficult part of any
flight training apart from hovering for helicopter pilots.
I was able to take advantage of the first helicopter flight experience because I was prepared.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States said I will prepare and someday my
chance will come. In whatever situation you find yourself today, I urge you to Prepare and
Wait for Opportunities.